davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-23
A HUNTERS WHOPPER.
Origin of the Phrase land 1t Wasn't Good
Day for Ducks Either"


In 1860. the year before the war;
| I party of Northern Illinois hunt
ers HE'D themselves to the lakes of
Minnesota for an annual duck hunt of
flew weeks, making the journey to st.
Paul, which was at that time but little
more than frontier village, by steam
n from Dubuque, Iowa. Among the
party was chap named Truax, pro-
verbal liar but jolly, good-natured
ellow withal, whose predominant
weakness was readily excused, if not
entirely overlooked, by those who knew
him well. Abe, that being his first
name, seemed to struggle more reck-
essly and naturally with the truth when
alking about his proves as hunter
If game than on any other subject.
one afternoon as the steamer was plow-
ng its way through Lake Pepin,
number of the male passengers were
seated forward on the boiler deck, in
title knots, passing the time away in
conversation. Abe was a prominent
lgure in one of the groups, and had
already astonished himself fairly by the
whoppers he had successfully gotten
DIT, when the subject of duck hunting,
The mission which himself and friends
were out on, was adverted to. 1--WE
shot few ducks in my time" broke in
Abe, during momentary lull in the
ialk. "How many did you ever kill in
one day?" queried cross-eyed passen-
ger from down about Burlington. "You
may not believe me, sir, replied Truax,
but in the late fall of 81, went out
alone, one morning, about seven miles,
with my dog and gun, and brought
home two hundred and sixty ducks by
actual count, and 1t Wasaa't O Uery good
lag for ducks, either" "You did that
all alone, and in one trip Pr asked the
cross-eyed man, as he put down some
figures on an envelope with pencil he
had carelessly taken from his vest
pocket Eyes, sir, did," said Truax,
with tinge of ill-humor to his tone
"Those ducks would weigh about two
and half pounds apiece, wouldn't
theyP" casually remarked the Bur-
ton man, as he kept on making char
acters with his pencil, II should say
they would" replied the unsuspecting
Abe. "Well, them" said the persistent
luerist, ''you killed just six hundred
and fifty pounds of ducks, and if you
can tell me how one man is able to
lug that weight seven miles, and carry
gun at the same time, you will do
something that no other liar in the
Northwest can match" Abe reflected
minute, and with, THAT is a whopper,
isn't it, gentlemen" he invited the
whole party into the bar to take some
thing at his expense. The remark, "And
it wasn't very good day for ducks,
either" was used banteringly on Truax
turing the remainder of the trip, and in
time became common on the Missis-
sippi, whence it spread until it became
Dne of the proverbial Americanisms of
the time.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
- -
The fashion in pet dogs used to
change from year to year, and this
made good business for the dog fam
,iers. King Charles, SPITE, poodles,
bull terriers, black-and-tans puos, st.
Demands and collies all had their day.
Extravagant prices were paid for choice
specimens, and no woman of fashion
vas happy unless she had her doc.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-23

The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette
prints sketch of Mrs. Fancy Frost,
,he oldest living inhabitant of the origi-
nal Northwest Territory. She was
born on October %, 1884. Her mind is
active and she is full of "reminiscences
Of life in the West in the early days.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-23

Owing to the increased electrical
tensity of the atmosphere, which is in-
iuced by the continual evolution of
steam and smoke, DIR. Andres, esti-
mates that the danger from lightning is
from three to five times greater than it
vas fifty years ago.-N Y. Independent.
Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-23

He travels safe and not unpleas-
antly, who is guarded by poverty and
guided by lovs.-Sir p Sidney.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
SPIRITS OF THE SEA.
Ghosts Which Are Said to Have Appeared
to Seafarlng Men.

to SeafarIng Men.
Popular tradition asserts that tho
ghost of young man lost at sea ap-
peared to his mother in Cornwall, and
that of an officer of the navy appeared
to his wife. At Nora, in Cornwall,
the Lady Sybilla sits on the rocks, look
ing seaward for wrecks. The appari"
ton of smuggling crew, dripping
wet, was also seen, portending the
wreck that followed. A pilot ut st.
Ives received a ghostly warning in tho
vision of man. his mouth filled with
seaweed and his shoes with sand. In u
Cornish legend, tho specter of a priva-
teer captain goes of in thunder cloud
in mysterious ship. In the same
story, the ghost of shipwrecked
sailor appears. In another tale SINH
lar specter appears, and carries off his
waiting bride. The ghosts of ship
wrecked mariners arc seen, and their
cries heard, from the waves in a certain
bay on Cornish coast. Scotch fisher
men and sailors have many stories
of these ghosts. The ghost of mur-
dered lady appears to her lover
at sea, in tale by Gregor, coming in
the shape of bright light assuming
the human form rs it draws nearer.
She finally calls him, and he springs in.
to her arms aud disappears in u flash o!
fire. In another legend, an officer seei
in vision two boatmen bringing in the
body of third. Soon afteward, this
actually occurred, the boat in which
they were having been capsized. The
specter of woman, who died on the
scaffold. is said to have appeared to her
sailor lover, who had promised to be
faithful to her, living or dead. 1t came
in a gale, accompanied by storm cloud
! accompanied by gigantic figure. The
vessel was, meanwhile. sorely storm
beaten, but was delivered, when these
apparitions obtained possession of the
tailor. On Solway Firth, the ghost of 3
murdered lady appears in blaze of fire
On small island, near Windermere
Scotland, called Ledge's Holm, there il
a quarry called "The Crier of Claife.'
An old legend says, ferryman wa
hailed on dark night from the Island
and went over. He came back, after {
long absence, after having seen SOM
horrible sights, which he ever afte
refused to relate, and soon after he bc
came monk. Afterward tho samo or,
was heard, and the monk went over, an,
succeeded in laying tho ghost in tin
quarry, where it still is.-F. Bassett
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

The Meier iron works, erected ops
posite South st. Louis at cost OF
$1,000, 900, are to be started up, after
having been idle for several years.
About five hundred workmen are
employed at Berlin in the production
of shoe rosettes. The sale amounts to
about one million yearly, and the ro-
settes are exported to all the European
countries and North and South Amer
lea.
During the past ton years the Bald
win locomotive works have made over
four thousand locomotives, of which
they have exported about nine hundred.
OF these, fully seven hundred have gono
to South America. They not only fur
nish engines to South America, but havs
supplanted English locomotives in NeN
Zealand. They have sent many to Aus
| tralia and 10 New South Wales. .--Phila-
delphia Press.
| Prof. j. limerick, Of William and
Mary College. has been studying a
meteroite which fell in that neighbor-
hood year ago, weighing about two
hundred tons. It's composition was
found to be chromium, nickel, alumni
mum, copper, magnesium, tin, and 9th
er metals and metalloids. 1t contained
eighty-seven per cent. of iron in me-
tallic state. Its specific gravity was
7.412.
Railroads are now giving preference
to ''sawed' ties when obtainable. They
| can be transported and handled at less
expense, and make smoother track,
with less labor and less time. Sawed
ties can be made from timber that can
not be utilized for other purposes. This
branch of industry is proving profitable,
as the demand for railroad ties is in
creasing and the prices are advancing.
Chicago Tribune.
While agreeing in general with the
theory that comets have their origin
beyond the limits of the solar system,
Prof. Daniel Kirkwood finds proof that
some of those Of short period are minor
planets, whose orbits in the asteroid
zone have been changed through the
perturbing influence of the large
planets. The third comet of 1884. for
instance, seems to have been drawn
from the Asteroids by Jupiter in May,
1875.-Boston Budget.
"A new kind of nail, for attaching
mouldings and other light lumber,
which leaves no nail holes, is made
with point Mt each end, and with an
outwardly- projecting head or shoulder
midway between the points. The nail
is first driven into the wood by means
of punch, which straddles the pro-
truding point and bears on the head,
When enough have been driven in the
moulding is placed over the nails and
driven down.-BoSton Bulletin.
"A well-known firm of Berlin en-
gineers is now making device for
signaling the passage of train by
means of mercury. The detection Of
one rail of the line caused by the pass
Ing of train is caused to press upon
the elastic diaphragm of a vessel fixed
under the rail, and containing mercury.
The mercury is forced up side tube
SO as to complete an electrical circuit
and ring a bell or work some other
indicator.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
PUNeEET PARAGRAPHS.

"A pretentious woman, who had
probably heard of amulets, boasted
that she "kept off all sorts of evils by
wearing an omelet about her neck"
The oifice-boy remarked to us that
the city seemed to be less coaled every
day while the thermometer went lower.
He has been discharged. Heuen
Ne,0s.
"A Boston contemporary undertakes
to say that the latest thing out is q
night-kcy. Now everybody who has
sheen there" knows that the night-key
invariably goes in before the chap who
carries t."-St. Adams Messenger.
The Buenos Ayres Herald says:
1.-The ladies Of Lima are all eyes" We
shall expect to hear of general exodus
of spectacle-venders to Lima forthwith.
There should be q fortune there for the
entire profession.
"A literary critic says of Browning:
"He has been writing poetry for nearly
half a century, and still lives" Poets
should not presume upon this, how
ever. They may not meet with such
lenient people.-Pittsb"rgh Chronicle.
"A young lady having read a very
long paper at missionary meeting,
showing the triumphs of tho Gospel, the
minister gave out the hymn beginning
''Hallelujah, tits DONE" He wondered
why everybody smiled.
-"How is Jim Bullard getting onp"
asked a stranger at tho railway station
Of Western town. "Jim kermitted
suicide bout month ago." replied u
nntive. "Committed suicide! How did
lie commit suicide?'' "He called me .
Bar, stranger"
"A good healthy mince pie for supper
is cheaper than going to the menagerie,
and you know all about the animals
just the same, particularly when yoa
awake in the middle of the night to
shake the baby hippopotamus off your
ehest.-FaH River Advecate.
-Brown-"Why dou's you spread
your umbrella9" oles-."Well, to tell
you the truth. Tn afrai,. some one in
sne crowd will recognize it." Brown
Then why do you carr.r itp'' Colea---
''Afraid some one will oNll for it whilo
Tn out. Lift
"A cultured gentleman from Con.
pecticut settled in frontier town and
started school. Ono day he asked o
bright little boy: "rve Got 80 in any
pocket and your father lends me six
more; what have got thenp" what
have you got if my father lends you $6r''
Eyes, Johnny, what have gotF'
"You've got to pay pa back his So whom
he asks for them, or be will shoot the
top Of Your head otf"--7cras Siftinys.
"A local correspondent vouches for
tho truth of the following, Two ladies
called at q house on Main street. AfI@r
two rings at tho bell, dear little girl
appeared and inspected the visitors with
undisguised interest. "Ah, my DEAR"
said one lady. twill please tell your
mother that Mrs. 49, ard Miss - are
here, and would like to see herP'' The
little dear sail she would. and went up
stairs. After a while she returned, mn
down and silently watched the two
strangers "WalL ''isaid one at length,
and what did mamma say. little onep''
She said, %, dear! don't want to, bul
lIs'pose must '"-Bxfaio 0osriev.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
WRECKED BY NATURE.
A Fcw Instances of the Destruction OF
Railway Trains by storms.


Railway Trains by storms.
In "Wonders and Curiosities of the
Railway" some remarkable incidents
are related of the destruction of rail-
road trains by storms. AT Kiowa, Kan
sas, in the year 1873, locomotive was
swept from railroad embankment by
a water-spout and lost in quicksand; !;
it has never been found.
In the summer of 1880, the town of
Monotony, on the Kansas Pacific rail-
road, was visited by a terrible thunder
storm and water-spout; over six thou
sand feet of track was washed away,
and the prairie lay eight feet under
water. During the occurrence of this
storm an entire freight-train was lost.
1t has never been found-not trace of
it-although the owners spent twenty
five hundred dollars in tho search. 1t
is supposed that the train was swept
away and buried under land-slip.
This is surely one Of the strangest mis-
haps ever chronicled! Some future
geologist may have treasure-trove in
this buried train, or in its impression
| on the rock.
At Potter Station, on the Union
Pacific railroad, in the autumn of 1875,
train was just pulling out from the
station, when storm began, and in ten
seconds three was such fury of hail
and wind that the engineer doomed it
best to stop tho locomotive. Tho hail
stones were simply great chunks of ice,
many of them three or four inches in
diameter, and of all shapes--squares,
cones, cubes and balls. The first stone
that struck the train broke a window.
and the flying glass severely injured a
lady on the face. Five minutes after.
wards there was not whole light OF
glass ON the south side Of the train. The
windows in tho Pullman cars were OF
French plate, three-eights of al inch
thick, and double. The hail broke both
thiclsncsses and tore the. curtains into
shreds. The wooden shutters. too, were
smashed, and many of the mirrors were
broken. The deck-lights on tho top o.
the cars were also demolished. The
dome of tho engine was dented as If il
had been pounded with aheavy weight
and the woodwork on the south side O.
tho cars was plowed as II some one hat
struck it all over with sliding blow
from hammer. The storm laste
twenty minutes, and when the trail
moved on the wheels crunched through
hail-stones drifted so deep as to imped
progress for some miles, Yonsh's Con-
panion.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
WOMAN AND The HOME.
Tho Atmosphere of Sweet Peace Which
Should Prevade Every Family.

Tho Atmosphere of Sweet Peace Which
Should Prevade Every Family.
Nothing so helps woman through
the long weary days of work, rs the
knowledge that what she does is apprc-
ciated by those she loves and for whom
she tolls. Think of this. husbands and
fathers, and remember that q kind word
is always in season. If, on some MORN
ing, the coffee is a shade too brown to
suit your taste, do not scold about it;
and, on every other morning when it is
delicious, say so. Try this way and you
will find your coffee, and every thing
else, to your taste much oftener; and
besides, you will give the ones you
ought to love best the sweet conscious
ness that they are doing their work
well, and giving satisfaction to the one.
of all others, they most desire to please
thus inspiring them with renewed
energy to strive for the merited re-
ward of kind, appreciative words.
And so shall an atmosphere Of
peace, and sweet home happiness come
to pervade the whole house, born and
nurtured into beautiful, fragrant blos-
soming by your own kind words and
deeds. Let us all remember, too, that
the higher and happier our home life.
the more wisely and better we may
hope to do the work that lies waiting
for'us beyond it., A pleasant place to
"come home to- is the greatest ener-
gizer man can have. Then let us
strive with an earnest and constant pur-
pose to make and keep the home cheer
full, inviting and pleasant.
Every home should be brightly and
tastefully furnished, froely-if carefully
used---and every table should be regular
ly spread with u reasonable. variety of
good, wholesome and appetizing food.
Economy is very good thing; but when
itdegenerates into unnecessary ''scrimp-
ing" it becomes meanness. The very
poor are often obliged to stint; but, what
their necessity makes virtue, is really
crime in the comfortably situated.
What are delicious things made for, il
not to be eateng The appetite claims a
certain amount Of what some consider
luxuries to satisfy it, and this should be
supplied in u reasonable quantity at the
home table. A craving. unsatisiied
stomach is o dangerous thing, whether
it is the result of over indulgence in inn
proper. or the want Of satisfying food
st. Louis Magazine. oas oaiYra \
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
WAIT.
OHIO.

Wait, my darling, by tho shore
Where the dreary waters moan;
You already have crossed o'cr,
nm lingering here alone.
Stray not In that land OF light
Far beyond tho open gate,
Lest lose you from my sight
Wait, my darling, darling, walt.
Mine the cross, but yours the crown;
Mine the labor, yours the rest;
You your burden have cast down.
Sorrow fingers in my breast.
All the waves OF life's rude sea
Dash my bark with storm.torn sail.
Tempest still abides for mo
You have drifted through the gale.
upon the hither shore.
You beyond the troubled tide;
Sorrow vexcs you no more,
Shadows with my life abide.
Heart that never more shall ache,
Eyes that never more shall weep,
Whilst sorrow for your sake,
Lying In the hst, long sleep.
Wait, my darling, by the shore,
Where the river darlily rolls;
Soon I, too. shall journey DER,
Passing to the land OF souls.
Stray not in the land OF light.
Pnss not through the open gate,
Lest lose you from my sight
Wait, my darling, darling. wait.
E. ~. Gunnison, IN Graphic NeWs.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
A BRIToN'S PLANT.
He Has n Pronounced Accent and Is Do
ridod by Americans.


ritlod by Americans.
II am subject to one form of persecu-
ton in this country" said an English
man to me the other day, (which find
quite intolerable, though can't in the
least blame my prosecutors. You know
I Ispeak quite like an Englishman, natu-
rally, and conduct myself quite like
one, as matter of course. Really, in
asmuch as I've been on this side only
month, you see, and am going home in
another month, it would hardly be
worth my while to attempt to master
the accent and the manners of the
country, don't you know. Now, Tn
not in the least unwilling to be taken
for an Englishman: that 1 am rather
proud of, in fact. But Pm not taken
for an Englishman, and there's the dis
agreeable feature of the thing. I'm
constantly taken, don't you see, for an
Anglomanic Yankee, q beastly cad
whose native country isn't good enough
for him, and who caricatures rs in a
wild attempt to initiate us. To be taken
for an Irish dynamiter or Russian
Nihilist would be a comparative COM
pliment. The other day l called on a
friend in the city to whom I had let
ter, and as he wasn't in fell into lit
tie parley with the young men Of the
outer Office about his return, and the
like. Then sat down in the inner
Office to wait bit for him. Presently
l heard, over the half-partition, one Of
the young men say softly to his COM
panions, with an imitation of my own
accent: Bah jove! not bad, don't you!
Is it natural or acquiredP' Painfully
acquiahed, deah boy-painfully ac-
quinhed.' said the other, in the same
tone. 'Cahn't be done in day, deah
boy he went on; there's Beverly Cad
ley, don't you know, who comes in here
sometimes to boah the governor; took
him one-and-twenty months yaas,
Internationally months, to acquiah,
his accent. This hasn't been carried
to the supchb perfection that Cadley's
has, not at all, my boy, but he'll mahster
Tin yeah or two, don't you know, with
perseverance, All this with an indes-
cribable clipping of consonants and
vowels made with the teeth-really
very clever, you know. Then l heard
a maddening chuckle from the two.
This is very much the sort of treatment
that get everywhere. Sometimes men
look MS if they were going to kick me,
until they learn that I'm really an En-,
glishman and then they're the best and
most cordial fellows in the world
Really, it's very natural to treat me so,
but it's deucedly unpleasant TO be, made
odious in strange land by aset Of cads'
don't you know!"-1 1auernsr., '''|'i' p
1t is a curious fact that the physical
condition Of steel is unsettled for many
hours after being rolled. Finally 1t comes
IL N - a.. "A
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
Deer In the TAR West arc fast goinly

Deer In the Tar West are fast going
the way Of the buffalo. One dealer in
jacksonville, Ore, Il in Z two months
bought thirteen hundred deerskips, and
other dealers in Southsrt Dragon have,
bought as many. These were all killed
for their skins only. contrary 70 law.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26

--'They never throw any thing away
in New England" Il. b. Aldrich said to
me one day. "they always put 1t I'D in
the attic. ."-St. Nicholas.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
The Blessings of Home.

"And so you've joined q gymnasium"
he queried.
"Yes."
"Going to take lessons in the manly
art, Isupposep"
20. no. ] am simply going to learn
how to dodge rolling-pins, prcss-boards.
tearpots and general household furni'
ture. ."--DetroH Free PRESS.
The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26

1t is a curious fact that the physical
condition Of steel Is unsettled for many
hours after being rolled. Finally 1t comes
|t0'a state Of rest, but amy test of its
quality before that period arrives Is mis-
leading,
The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-12-02
ARTEsIAN WELL.

The greatest need of Scranton is
a public well where the citizens can
get a bOuniiful supply Ofpnre wa'e
at all season free of cost, especially
when private wells and cisterns are
dry or impure. DrOuih has effected
this town repeatedly, when numbers
of families have to procure drinking
water, often with difficulty, from
their neighbOrs, who are more fort
innate. And in addition to this we
have had disastrous fires that might
have been controlled If we had had
sufficient water.
Now, if each head of a family will
contribute five dollars to the nun
Der of one hundred families, who
would be benefited largely in ex.
cess of that amount, we could have
an artesian well that would afford
an ample supply OF water for the
town in the most extreme drouth.
All citizens should feel interested
in the matter. 1t cannot be done by
individual effort, therefore it is nee
essary thst all should become inter.
ested, and make a united effort to
get an artesian well.
The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-12-02
pnstnnice and Mails.

Postofice open from 8 am. to 6 pm.
every day.
On Sundays open from 9 TO 1Oa.m. and
from | to 2 pm.
Letters for register will be received
during the week from 8 am. till $3.50 p m.
No letters registered on Sundays, nor after
hours on week days.
AREIvALAND DEPARTURE OF MAILS.
from Scranton---Arrives at 6:25 am. and
l:15 pm. Departs at 10 am. and 2:l5
pm.
Leakesrille ROute---Arrives on Wednes-
days and Saturdays at IL a m. Departs
on Wednesdays and saturdays at II m.
A. BLUMER. P. NJ.
The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-12-02
M0ssPOEIlRVaST0REl

TPrescripnOus 6Ilsd at all HOursA
W. D. BRAGG q son.
Moss Point, Mss, april I, ISL sly